Filing-cabinet.



No. 810,823. PATENTBD JAN. 23, 1906.l

P. w. ToBBY.

FILING CABINET.

z APrLIoATIon Hum 11u12, laos.'

a sung-samer 1.

F. W. TOBBY.

FILING CABINET.

` APPLIOATIGN FILED MAY 12, 1905.

PATENTED JAN. 23, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

@mib/Loman (Il III...

'UNITED 'STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J' an. 23, 1906.

Application nai may 12, 1905. serial 110.260,1242

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front eleva-I tion of two sections of the cabinet, the upper section having the front in position and the lower section being partly in elevation and being partly a cross-section on theline 5 6 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of one of the drawers on the dotted line 78 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the extension-slide uponv which the drawer rests. Fig. his a vertical cross-section ofthe lower part of the drawer. Fig. 5 is an interior plan ofthe upper portion ofthe front, showing in cross-section the upper portions of the sides ofthe drawer. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a two-section ycabinet having the extension-slides and the drawers open. Fig. 7 is a cross-section of the extension-slide on line 17,2 of Fig. 3 showing in projection other parts ofthe slide.

A, in Figs. 1 and 6,'represents the side or main frame of the cabinet. B C represent the front of the drawer, the same being in two sections divided by a seam, B being the upper and C the lower portion. D is the bottom of the drawer. `Each side of the drawer is formed in two parts, E E being the lower parts7 rigidly attached to the bottom and 'forming with it the lower portion of a box,

and F F being the upper portions attached to the upper part B of the front and with that forming the upper portion of a box sliding upon the lower portion. G G are suitable ways or guides for the sliding contact between the upper and lower portions of the sides. The lower part of this drawer oi' box is provided with a back in the usual way, while the upper part of the box is open at the rear and is without any attached back.

H H are angleieces rigidly attached to the lower part of t e drawer and slidably engaging with the upper part of the drawer.

- the slide.

This upper art is provided with the way'H, as indicate by the dotted lines in Fig. 6, and the upper bent portion of the angle-piece H slides in this way H', thus reventing the upper portion of the drawer om moving away from or separating from the lower portion, while allowing free longitudinal motion of these portions with reference to each other.

I is a rod u on which the cards or iles slide and which olds them in position. This may be of any customary form, and I do not show it in detail.l

J is a follower which takes the place of the missing' rear end of the upper part of the drawer and stands at an angle, as shown. It ma be moved forward or back in the drawer an shifted into different positions or locked in osition7 all in any customary manner, an I have not shown the details of its adjustability.

The drawer itself is carried by and slides upon an extension-slide instead of upon the bottom of its containin section or crate. This extension-slide is il ustrated in its extended position in Fig. 6 and is shown 'detail in Figs. 3 and 7. It is composed of a frame of any suitable shape, but which I have shown as rectangular and composed of.

side and end pieces K K. It is provided with transverse rollers L L', which are suitably journaled in the slide, so that they revolve in it. It is also provided upon its lower surfaces withy suitable stops, which I have shown in the form of cross-bars K and O. The inner edges 'of the side pieces K K are suitably rabbeted, as shown by the dotted lines S in Fig. 3 and as shown in crosssection in Fig.` 7. The under surface of the drawer is provided with a guide or block which slides in the way formed by the two sides K K of the extension-slide, and thus the forward motion of the drawer upon the eX- tension-slide is guided by this block M and is always parallel to the sides of the slide, so that ,the drawer cannot become twisted upon. The bottom of the drawer is also provided with a T-shaped UuideN, which in the torm shown is separate Irom the guide M.

The wings of this T-shaped guide project into and slide in rabbets or grooves S in the side pieces of the extension-slide, therebyT preventing the drawer from being lifted ol'l' from the slide. As the drawer is drawn Jforloo IOS

each other and to t Ward oi' tothe left in Fig. 3 upon the extension-slide the guide M will strike the crossbar or stop O, and the forward motion of the drawer will be thereby checked. If it is desir-ed to remove the drawer, it may be lifted over the sto and pulled a short distance farther forwar( when the win s of the T-guide N will re ister with the vertical slots P in the slide, and it will thereby be permitted to lift the drawer vertically awa from the slide. The main frame of the ca inet is provided with any suitable stop, which when the slide is drawn out to the position shown in the upper .section in Fig; 6 will engage with the crossbar or stop K upon the slide and prevent the further forward motion of the latter. The rollers L L have their ends carried by and moving in suitable grooves in the sides of the cabinet-frame, such grooves being indicated by dotted lines in Fig. .6 and clearly shown in cross-section in Fig. 1. The drawer through .contact made bythe bottoms of its sides rests upon and is wholly carried by these rollers and is not carried directly by the main frame of the extension-slide. It will be apparent that as the drawer is pulled forward lts wei ht resting upon these rollers will cause tieml to revolve and that they will travel forwardpin their supporting-grooves, the rollers revolving in and carr ing with them the extension-slide, and that ecause of the diiieringlmotion of the periphery and of the center of these rollers the drawer will move forward at a much faster speed than' will the'extension-slide, and if the parts are properly proportioned both the drawer and the extension-slide will reach their respective fixed limits of forward motion at about the same time, as illustrated in the upper section of Fi 6. Additionally, to prevent any tilting o the upper portion. of the drawer upon the lower portion I provide a band Q, which is attached rigidly near its rear to the outside of each up er drawer portion and whichpasses looseljy around the lower drawer portion, bein carried under the same in the Aslot or recess This construction does notI interfere with the longitudinal lmotion of the upper and lower drawerportions with reference to each other, but revents lifting one awa from the other. 'lhis band Q is also rigi enough to hold the upper ortions of the sides in vertical alinement wit the lower portions, and thereby in proper relation to e complete box, thus supplying this function ofthe missing end of the box. g

R is a spring-latch operating when closed to connect the upper and lower portions 'of the front, and thereby make one drawer out\ of both parts. When this spring-latch is released by lifting or by openin 1n any way, the up er ortion is permitte to move forward siidalily upon the lower portion.

In using this device after" the parts are as'-r sembled and the upper and lower portions of the drawer being as shown in the lower section of Fig. 6, forming one ordinary drawer, the files to be contained are inserted and the follower J is brought forward, so as properl to bind them. When it is desired to consu t these files, the drawer is pulled out from the "cabinet, and its relation to the cabinet and the extension-slide permits the drawer to be drawn entirely'outside of the cabinet, thus giving free access to the extreme rear of the drawer and avoiding the necessity for having the rear iortion of the drawer-held by and supporte in the cabinet, where it is not accesslble. It will be noticed that the contained files are by their lower edges held and firmly bound in the box constituted by the lower portion of the drawer. Their upper portions are also held closely together and too closely' to permit of inspection and selection. Desiring to inspect these files and select one for withdrawal or lperhaps to examine to some extent without withdrawal I release the catch R and pull forward the u per portion of the drawer until it takes t e ilrosition shown in the upper section in Fig. 6.

his leaves the lower e ges of the files still firmly bound, with all the upper portions unbound, and permits all the selection and inspection necessary without further disturbing the file. When the upper portionof the drawer is restored to its former osition, the entire drawer is once more a sing e structure` The construction described not only per` mits the entire drawer to be withdrawnfrom.

the cabinet, but gives additional s ace for the follower, which usually occupies t e tilted position shown and is difficult of access with- 'out removing the drawer entirely from the cabinet.

It is evident also that'since the upper 1portion of the drawer is provided with no ac the tilting follower may be moved to the extreme rear at the bottom, and thereby leave the entire bottom space open for the insertion of files, while the ollower in its tilting or swinging motion will extend back of the rear of the drawer. When the drawer is thus -filled with files and is shoved back into position, the follower striking against the rear of the cabinet will have its upper portion swung forward and it will operation with .thd top of the l'front of the become upright and in colOO IIO.

drawer will hold the upper portion of the files toglether as firmly as the bottom is held. W en the drawer thus completely filled is withdrawn and pressure-u on the upper portion of the file is relieved by the tilting back of the follower and by the forward motion f the/upward part of the front, the action of the device may be compared to that of a book, the files representing the leaves and the followerandthe front representing the covers, and when thus partially opened the files the drawer, whereby the files are closed like the leaves of a book. This motion by the upward part of the front, which I compare to the motion of the cover of a book, may be a distinct motion of separation, as vI have shown, or might be a swinging or any other equivalent motion.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim to have invented, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a filing-cabinet,`\a sliding drawer composed of an upper section and a lower section, and means lfor holding the same in slidable contact .with each other whereby the upper section of the drawer may be drawn forward sliding upon the lower section.,

2. In a filing-cabinet, the combination, with theu main frame, of a sliding drawer com osed of an upper and a lower section in slidab e engagement with each other, and a yfollower forming the back of the upper portion of the drawer and adjustable to and from the front.

3. In a filing-cabinet, the combination with the main frame, of a sliding drawer composed of sides, a sectional front, a tilting back and a bottom, means for adjusting the back to and from the front, and means for permitting the upper portion of the back and one of the sections of the front to move away from each other while the lower portion and the other section of the front retain their relative positions, whereby the contained les may 'be freely examined while held bound by their lower edges.

4. In a ling-cabinet, the combination with the main frame, of a sliding drawer com osed of an upper and a lower section in slidab e engagement with each other, a follower forming the back of the upper section of the drawer and adjustable to and from the front, and means for preventing the u per sectionfrom moving forwardly upon the ower section.

5. In a filing-cabinet, the combination with the main frame, of a sliding drawer com osed of an upper and a lower section in slidab e enagement with each other, a follower formlng the back of the upper section of the drawer and adjustable to and from the front, means for preventing the u per 'section from moving forwardly upon the ower'section, and

means carried by one section and engagingin the other of the sections to prevent the tilting of the sections upon one another.

6. In a filing-cabinet, the combination with the main frame, of an extension-slide arranged therein, asliding drawer composed of an upper and a lower section mounted upon said frame, rollers carried by the extensionslide, adapted to supportthe slide and actuated by the sliding drawer, and means for holding the Isections of the drawer in slidable contact with each other,whereby the upper 65 I section of the drawer may be drawn forward in a sliding manner upon the lower section2 7. In a filing-cabinet, the combination with the main frame, of a sliding drawer compose of an 'upper and a lower section in slidable 7o engagment with each other, a follower forming t e back of the upper ortion of the drawer and adjustable to and from the front, and means fordetachably connecting the said sections together, said means when in operative position preventin the sliding'` of one section upon the other an when in inoperative position perrmtting one of the sections moving forwardly upon the other of the sections. A

8. In a filing-cabinet, the combination with a main frame, of an extension-slide arranged therein, a sliding drawer composed of an upper and a lower section, supporting-rollers carried bythe eXtension-slideand adapted to be actuated by the sliding drawer, means for holding the sections of the drawer in slidable contact with each other so that the upper section lcan be slid forward upon the lower section, and means for locking the two sectionsy together to form a unit and to revent one sec` tion moving in advance of t e other section. 9. In a iihng-cabin'et, the combination'with a main frame, of an extension-slide arranged therein, a slide-drawer composed of an upper and a lower section, supporting-rollers carried by the extension-slide and adapted to be actuated by the slide-drawer, means for holding the sections of the drawer in slidable contact with each other so that the upper section can be slid forward `upon the lower section, means for locking the two sections together to form a unit and to prevent one section moving in advance of the other section, and means carried by one section and engaging in the other ofthe sections to prevent the tilting of the sections upon one another when with-` drawin them from the cabinet.

10. n a filings/cabinet, the 1combination with a main frame, of an extension member arranged therein, a sliding drawer composed of an upper and a` lower section, means carried by one of the sections and engaging in the other of the sections for holding the sections in slidable contact and for limiting the sliding movement of the upper section upon the lower section, and means for locking the two sections together to form a unit and to prevent one section moving in advance of the other section.

` 11. `In a' filing-cabinet, the combination with almain frame, of an extension member arranged therein, a sliding drawer composed of/an upper and a lower section, means carried by one of the sections and engaging in the other of the sectidns for holdin the sections in slidable contact and for linntingthe sliding movement ofthe upper section upon the roo lower section, means for locking the two sec'- In testimony whereof Ihave hereunto set tions together to form a unit and to preent my hand in presence of two subscribing witone section moving in advance of the other nesses. l

section, and means carried by one section and FRED W. TOBEY. 5 engagin in the other section to prevent the Witnesses:

tiltin o the seetlons from one another when A. C. DENISON,

with rawing the sections from the cabinet. M ARY S. TooKER. 

